I'll drink to that...

[Jim]

@unknownuser said:

COLUMBUS -- The state Department of Commerce said that state liquor sales hit $734.8 million in 2009, exceeding last year's total by $15.7 million or 2.18 percent.

The top 10 selling brands in Ohio for 2009 were:

* Kamchatka Vodka
* Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey
* Bacardi Superior Light Rum
* Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
* Smirnoff  Vodka
* Crown Royal Canadian Whiskey
* Jagermeister
* Absolut Vodka
* Black Velvet Canadian Whiskey
* Korski Vodka

What, no Wild Turkey or Southern Comfort? MD 20/20 anyone?

[Chris Fullmer]

Is this only a hard liquor list? I thought the beers ould have made a stronger showing. Looks like Ohio likes their Vodka, Whiskey and Rum....

[mitcorb]

Isn't Ohio kind of in the "Corn Belt"?

[KXI System]

Also the "Drunk in public" crimes rose.

[Jim]

@mitcorb said:

Isn't Ohio kind of in the "Corn Belt"?

I don't hear corn belt as much as rust belt.

[olishea]

lol MD 20/20 is horrible. brings back memories though

[dale]

More evidence. But I think the UK consumption actually went down after Keith Richard s quit drinking a while back.

---

[Daniel]

The sad truth is that a lot of people hit by the bad economy are drowning their sorrows in alcohol.

[Anssi]

@dale said:

More evidence. But I think the UK consumption actually went down after Keith Richard s quit drinking a while back.

Your graph may be true, but it is a superior example of the "how to lie with statistics" genre. It is cut at 175 so it looks like the growth is very dramatic - it is, but not that dramatic. They make a 30% increase look like a 1000% increase...

Anssi

[dale]

Yes it was taken from a wine industry site. They were patting themselves on the back.
I remember my Statistics course from University, I was always impressed about how a little manipulation of facts could garner results for the spin doctors. (perhaps we do the same thing in the visualization world)

[Jim]

@daniel said:

The sad truth is that a lot of people hit by the bad economy are drowning their sorrows in alcohol.

It's a 10-year record-breaking trend: Liquor sales in Ohio reach all-time high for 10th year in a row. But I'm sure there is some truth in in the thought.

Personally, I only drink when I'm at home and not asleep.